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Lee ByungHun, Ha JungWoo, Ha JiWon and Choi KangHee awarded the popular star awards at the 30th Blue Dragon awards

12/03/2009 12:58:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , , 0 Comments

Actors Lee ByungHun, Han JungWoo, Ha JiWon and Choi KangHee are awarded the popular star awards at the 30th Blue Dragon Movie Award.


The award cermony took place on 2nd December in Seoul KBS Hall with Kim HyeSoo and Lee BumSoo as the hosts of the ceremony.

Ha JiWon is said to have the best ‘ticket power’ this year with her 2 flicks ‘Haewoondae’ and ‘My love by my side’. She was also awarded the Best Actress for the first time since her debut 11 years ago during the College Movie Festival on 1st December.

Lee ByungHun is known to be popular not just in Korea but also overseas for his various overseas movies participation like Hollywood film ‘G.I. Joe’.

As for Ha JungWoo, he recently starred in the movie ‘National Representative’ which was 6th in the history of Korea’s box office watched by over 8.5 million Koreans. And this is his first award received at the Blue Dragon Awards.



Kris Allen vs Adam Lambert ... Again

12/03/2009 12:58:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

My father has baseball, my brothers have football and I have American Idol. I'm not much different from them while watching Idol. I cheer, curse and yell at the contestants just as they do at the players. Last season I was wrapped up in the competition between winner Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, who was the most popular runner up since Clay Aiken. I eagerly awaited their debut releases because I enjoyed most of their performances throughout the competition. The wait is over and both titles meet with mixed results.


Kris Allen's self-titled debut carries on the tradition of other Idol debut releases. There's radio-friendly fare ("Live Like We're Dying"), heart-tugging ballads ("I Need to Know"), and his most popular cover from Idol, Kanye West's "Heartless." There are some good tracks such as the self-penned "Red Guitar" and "The Truth." Allen's clear voice and sincere delivery helps him maintain his all-around good guy image. The overall problem is the blandness that dominates rest of his debut. Allen proved that he can make a song his own (check out his outstanding rendition of "Falling Slowly" from Idol on You Tube), but there's little of this evidenced here. Allen seems to want to go in the direction of Jason Mraz, but he lacks Mraz's fun and loose style. Kris Allen is a predictable and bland debut that hardly demonstrates why he became 2009's American Idol.

Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment falls under the category of less is more. Highlights include "Aftermath" and "Broken Open," because they best showcase Lambert's powerhouse vocals and dramatic delivery. "Soaked" guarantees Lambert the lead if a film is ever made based on the life of Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury. Other tracks such as "Music Again" and "If I Had You" are so overproduced that it's a wonder I'm not suffering from a broken eardrum after listening to them. Some of Lambert's lyrics try to be suggestive such as the title cuts--"Can you handle what I’m 'bout to do/ Cause it's about to get rough for you"--but feel as though they're recycled from artists such as Madonna and Lady GaGa. There is some evidence of what made Lambert popular on Idol on Entertainment. The problem is talents are overshadowed by silly lyrics and extreme overproduction. Lambert's debut will be remembered more than Allen's but more so for his antics promoting it than any of its songs.

Overall, I expected more from both Allen and Lambert. I figured if they’re capable of outstanding performances then they’ll make top-notch debuts. Hopefully they’ll progress as artists on their follow ups. I give them both credit for keeping Idol's awful 2009 coronation song "No Boundaries" off their debut releases. It shows good judgment on their parts and I don't have to be reminded of one of the low points of last season.

The 10 Top-Earning Taiwan/ese Singers of 2009

12/03/2009 12:58:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , , 0 Comments

Singers sacrifice their life, their privacy, their freedom and their love life in exchange for applause from fans & hundreds of millions of revenue. This year, Jay Chou tops the list once again.

1. Jay Chou: estimated earnings = $554million

6 commercial events = $28.8million
7 concerts = $140million
9 endorsements = $270million
2 films (The Treasure Hunter & The Green Hornet)= $115million

2. S.H.E: estimated earnings = $360million

20 endorsements = $200million
24 commercial events & concerts = $150million
book ‘3 Spas of Love’ & Ella’s idol drama ‘Down With Love’ = $10million

3. Jolin Tsai: estimated earnings = $350million

24 commercial events = $82.2million
2 concerts = $7.8million
11 endorsements = $230million
album sales = $20million
nail shop + own clothing brand = $10million

4.Leehom Wang: estimated earnings = $270million

15 commercial events = $30million
12 endorsements = $200million
10 concerts = $40million

5. Mayday: estimated earnings = $268million

5 commercial events = $10million
24 concerts = $76.8million
10 endorsements = $115million
merchandise = $5million

6. Wilber Pan: estimated earnings = $266.55million

20 commercial events = $72.5million
3 concerts = $21.15million
7 endorsements = $173.9million

7. Angela Zhang: estimated earnings = $246million

30 commercial events = $111.6million
8 endorsements = $88million
album sales = $5million

8. Show Luo: estimated earnings = $220million

20 commercial events = $45million
5 concerts = $15million
10 endorsements = $150million
2 dramas (Hot Shot & Hi My Sweetheart) = $6.5million
album sales (overseas edition) = $20million

9. A-mei Zhang: estimated earnings = $158.8million

25 commercial events = $91.95million
8 concerts = $26million
2 endorsements = $30.85million
album sales = $10million

10. Elva Hsiao: estimated earnings = $100million

12 commercial events = $30million
5 endorsements = $60million
album sales = $10million

Note: all figures are in New Taiwan Dollars (NT$)

G-Dragon sells the most albums in 2009

12/03/2009 12:54:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , , 0 Comments

According to Hanteo Information System, which monitored album sales from January 1st to December 1st of this year, only two musicians have been able to sell over 100,000 albums this year and to no one's surprise, the big winners are G-Dragon of Big Bang and Super Junior.


G- Dragon's first album, “Heart Breaker,” which was released in August, has sold 127,252 albums, making it the #1 selling record of 2009. Following G-Dragon closely behind is the thirteen-member-ed Super Junior, who came back to the Korean music scene in March with their 3rd studio album, "Sorry Sorry." Since then, the album has sold 123,286 records.

In 3rd place is the newly formed girl group 2NE1, who released a self-titled mini album in July and with their single “I Don’t Care,” sold 89,007 records this year.

SNSD, who released their 2nd mini-album this past April, hold the 4th and the 5th spot as they released two very successful albums this year. Their 2nd mini album, “Tell Me Your Wish,” which was released in June, has sold 85,063 records and their 1st mini album, released in January, has gone to sell 81,445 records.

Congrats to all the artists and who are you surprised didn't make the cut?

Ha Ji-won Wins 1st Best Actress Award

12/03/2009 12:53:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

Popular actress Ha Ji-won collected her first Best Actress award at the 5th University Film Festival of Korea, Tuesday.

Ha starred in the blockbuster disaster film ``Haeundae'' and the melodrama ``Closer to Heaven'' this year, proving both her box office appeal and powerful acting skills. This was her first acting award in her 14-year career.

Actor Ha Jeong-woo, who appeared in the hit film ``Take Off,'' was named Best Actor. Bong Joon-ho received the Best Director prize for ``Mother.''

The results were taken from a survey of 980 college students majoring in film. They were asked to name the Film of the Year, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress.

``Take Off,'' a sports film inspired by the South Korean national ski jumping team, captured the Best Film award.

Rising Star awards were given to Kang Ji-hwan, the heartthrob lead actor of ``My Girlfriend Is an Agent,'' and actress Park Bo-young of ``Speed Scandal.''

Best Supporting Actor went to Jin Gu, who appeared in Bong's ``Mother,'' while Best Supporting Actress went to Kim Hae-suk, who starred in Park Chan-wook's Cannes Film Festival award-winning film ``Thirst.''

The film festival opened at CGV Yeongdeungpo Times Square Tuesday and runs through Thursday.

Nokia N87 12MP to come with WVGA display

12/03/2009 12:53:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments

If we’re to believe a recently-appeared rumor, Nokia is working on a 12MP camera phone dubbed Nokia N87 12MP.


Like other Nseries smartphones (N96, N86), the N87 seems to be a dual slider. Its features should include: a 3.2 inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) capacitive touchscreen display, 16GB of internal memory, a 600MHz processor and, of course, a 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics plus dual LED and Xenon flashes. The N87 may also come with that revamped Symbian UI that Nokia talked about today.

Sure, there’s nothing official about this at the moment, but an N87 12MP would certainly be a logical successor to the Nokia N86 8MP.

Some older rumors had it that Nokia would announce its first 12MP camera phone before the end of 2009 so let’s wait a bit and see if this turns out to be true. Until then, here’s the video that started all the talk about the N87 12MP:


Samsung Omnia II unboxing and hands-on

12/03/2009 12:52:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , 0 Comments



It's here at last, and we're frankly thrilled to be holding Samsung's very first TouchWiz 2.0 device, the Verizon Wireless-bound Samsung Omnia II. The 2.0 software brings with it a Widget Store, and as a general UI manages to skin over a majority of Windows Mobile 6.5, which is puttering along underneath. The handset is a tad on the bulky side, but makes up for it with a wonderful 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA screen and a very nice 5 megapixel camera. We'll have a review for you before long, but for now you can check out a quick video rundown (including some playtime with the Samsung-exclusive "Swype" keyboard) after the break. And if that video is enough to convince you, the phone is available now on Verizon Wireless for $200 after rebate.


Hero Jaejoong turned down cast offer for Iris season 2

12/03/2009 12:52:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

KBS2TV drama Iris, the Iris production representative explains, “We are already planning Iris season two, filming will begin in May of next year at the earliest.”

According to the representative, they already have plans for Iris season two; they will be filming in China, Japan, Europe, and other locations.

Iris lead actor is predicted to not be able to take a part in Iris season two, due to his already scheduled Hollywood film. Aside from him, other actors have possibilities of reappearing in season two, but until now nothing have been confirmed.

Related person informed reporters: “There was a proposal of having DBSK’s Hero Jaejoong to appear in Iris season 1. Also have him appear in the first season grand finale episode 20, then in season 2 have him officially appear, but this could not happen because Jaejoong turned down the part. Now we are looking for an actor to play the part.”

Watch out for new girlgroup Nia, hailed as the ‘2nd Brown Eyed Girls’

12/03/2009 12:52:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Hip hop producer singer MC HanSai (MC한새) reveals upcoming female group Nia, who are also called the ‘2nd Brown Eyed Girls’.


MC HanSai’s agency BCR Media said on the 2nd, “MC HanSai is the main producer for Nia’s new single album.”

The group gained much attention in the indie scene earlier this year in April when they released their single ‘My Everything’ and was promoting in the HongDae region. They were also called the ‘2nd Brown Eyed Girls‘.

Go under the cut to know about this group.

More about Nia:

* Leader/Drummer – Sso Ji (써지)
* Bass – Choi YeongShin (최영신)
* Vocal – Jeon SoYeon (전소연)
* Guitarist – Hwang BoNare (황보나래)

BCR Media said, “Even though the group has been misunderstood as the ’singers without a face’ they want to show their music capabilities and gain acknowledgement for that. This is similar to that of Brown Eyed Girls when they first started out.”

The group will be revealing a new title song ‘Goodbye’ with 2 versions ‘Song version’ and ‘Rap version’ on 2nd December.

Their song ‘My Everything’ released in April



This is not the first group that MC HanSai has produced, he also produced for the group Orange under which 4Minute Kwon SoHyun used to be under, and also boygroup DNT.

Aaron Kwok on theme song duet with Ekin Cheng: his singing is not bad

12/03/2009 12:49:00 AM kenmouse , Posted in , , , 0 Comments

Reuniting after 10 years since their first collaboration in The Storm Riders, Hong Kong actors Aaron Kwok and Ekin Cheng also recorded the theme song for the sequel The Storm Warriors. The two stars and film directors the Pang Brothers (Danny and Oxide) were in town recently to promote the wuxia flick, which opens in cinemas next Thursday.

In an interview, Aaron attributed his reunion with Ekin, who also starred in the original movie, to "fate" and shared that it has deepened their friendship with each other.

The movie's theme song, a duet performed by Aaron and Ekin, was shrouded in rumours that the two stars fought over who should sing the theme song.

Addressing the gossip, Aaron said that "Those reports are really silly. Just look at how we're performing a duet, you will know that there is nothing wrong [between us]. [Ekin's] singing is not bad."

A decade since the first movie was release, the 44-year-old shared that he has a different outlook on things now. "10 years ago, I acted under the identity of an actor. The director wanted to film the show with a comic book effect and yet wanted to create a human role."

The Storm Warriors centres heavily on explosive martial arts chorography and fight sequences. So it's hardly any surprise that Aaron Kwok, who reprises his role from the original movie, suffered for his art - whether or not it had anything to do with the action.

He revealed that he "saw blood" during the three months of filming. A freak accident occurred in one of the explosion scenes When a crew member accidentally misplaced a staple at the film site and when the blast took place, small staples were shot into Aaron's arm.

"I felt a very long sharp object piercing inside. And a while later, my arm began to swell, and it was as big as half an egg. The pain's comparable to that of a pistol bullet!"

Luckily for Aaron, his injuries were not very serious and he was discharged from the hospital on the day itself. As he did not wish to cause his mother further worry, he requested the production crew to keep it a secret, lest the news got out, sparking a media frenzy.

The filial son said that his mother had already been informed about the matter before he left for his movie promotional stopover in Singapore.

Catch The Storm Warriors when it opens here on Dec 10.

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